While the internet is abuzz with the Rangers acquiring Panthers captain/defenseman Bryan McCabe for left wing Tim Kennedy and a third-round pick, the Panthers have yet to confirm it. They’re probably dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. McCabe really did want to stay but clearly the Panthers want to get younger while shedding salaries. Plus, they feel very confident that they have some of best young defensemen in hockey with Garrison, Kulikov, Ellerby, Gudbranson etc…as well as young veteran Mike Weaver.
Kennedy, 24, had 10 goals and 26 assists for the Sabres last year but has been stuck in the minors all year because of a wrinkle in the CBA.
Neither McCabe or his agent would talk about it yet.

Comments (14 Comments)

The wrinkle is that he would have had to be exposed to re-entry waivers and could have been claimed and then the Ranger would have still been on the hook for half of his $550,000 salary. It therefore begs the question of whether Kennedy can play for the Panthers this season without being exposed to re-entry waivers and the Panthers then losing him.

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Share UPDATE: TSN is reporting Bryan McCabe has been traded from Florida to the New York Rangers for Tim Kennedy and a third-round draft pick.

Several media members reported earlier today that McCabe could be on the move and joining the New York Rangers as early as today.

Nick Kypreos of Sportsnet reported on Twitter that McCabe was willing to waive his no-trade clause and he could be traded to the Rangers today. Arthur Staple of Newsday writes it is believed that McCabe will only waive his no-trade clause to move to the Rangers.

McCabe is in the final year of a five-year, $28.75 million contract. He is set to make $4.15 million this season but carries a cap hit of $5.75 million. McCabe has 5 goals and 22 points for the Panthers this season, but he also missed time with a broken jaw.

The Rangers have reportedly been seeking an offensive-minded veteran to help their young defense corps. Michal Rozsival was traded to Phoenix and Wade Redden has spent the season in the minors, leaving the Rangers with their top six defensemen are all 26 years old or younger. New York has plenty of cap room to make such a deal, and Larry Brooks of the New york Post reports the Rangers would need to move $3.5 million of acquisition space if they wanted to add McCabe and another rumored target, Dallas center Brad Richards.

Once again, we have to question if the Panthers got good value in return? I think the panthers would have been better off just asking for a 2nd round pick for McCabe straight up. By 24, in Kennedy’s case, if you haven’t established yourself as an NHL player, chances are you’re not going to make it.

Alex this comes as no surprise. This firesale goes on every season for the Panturds. Around the end of February every season, they look up and down their roster and anyone who is remotely NHL caliber gets traded. The rest stick around to help the team suck next season. It’s a vicious circle that never ends. I don’t think I have ever seen the Panthers make a trade where they were on the winning end in over 8 years. Panther trades are always lopsided and they always lose their shirt. This is because management down here is incompetent and GMs like Tallon have nothing to bargain with. Tallon is like a poker player with $5 in his pocket showing up to a high-stakes poker game and the other players are shrewd and experienced at smelling out weak hands. What happened in the McCabe trade is a prime example. Sather knew McCabe wouldn’t waive his “no trade” clause for any other offering teams except the Rangers so he low-balled Tallon with a crappy offer. Tallon had no choice, but to to accept it. This is how the Panthers operate year after year and it explains why this team continues to suck and will suck for many seasons to come.

That is awesome.
3000 TV viewers/game.
Less than the Ninja Blender & Ice Chopper Infomercial
Lowest in the NHL.
Lowest in sports.

send in those season ticket renewals now Paaaanther Faaaans
We are building a solid foundation for the future !!
Yacky

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About the author

HARVEY FIALKOV, a tennis-playing sportswriter who grew up in Long Island following the dynastic Islanders, is the new Panthers beat writer for the Sun Sentinel and looking forward to writing about the best professional sports team in Broward County.